Rates and Reasons for Not Reporting Religious Discrimination to Authority Figures.

This article examines the reporting of perceived religious discrimination to relevant authority figures among U.S. adults, using data from the Experiences with Religious Discrimination Study (ERDS). It finds that only about 13 percent of individuals who experience religious discrimination report it, with higher reporting rates in workplace settings compared to medical or travel contexts. The most common reason for not reporting is a belief that nothing could be done, a sentiment more frequently expressed by Jewish, Muslim, and other religious minority groups than by Christians. Additionally, Muslims are more likely to cite fear of personal risks as a reason for non-reporting. These findings suggest that official records likely underestimate religious discrimination and highlight the need for organizations to build trust and address barriers to reporting, especially among marginalized religious groups.